News & Announcements

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Join the Ram Nation Baseball Clinic

Any young baseball fans interested in joining the Ram Nation Baseball Clinic during Spring Recess?

The Port Chester Recreation Department will host the clinic from April 2 to 6 for players ages 8 to 13. The clinic’s goal is to prepare players for the upcoming spring baseball season. It is designed to develop and increase each individual’s skillset. Stations will be set up for hitting, throwing, defense, base running and pitching to develop proper technique.

Find more information in the PDF links below. The registration deadline is March 23.

The clinic will be led by Port Chester High School head coach Eddie Martinez and players on the varsity baseball team.

Pre-Kindergarten Registration Now Open for Port Chester Residents

Families with children looking to begin pre-kindergarten in the fall can now register their students.

Port Chester Public Schools’ pre-kindergarten registration is now open until March 30. Eligible children must have turned 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2018, reside in Port Chester and meet federal and state income eligibility requirements.

Applications can be picked up from Port Chester Head Start Pre-Kindergarten, which is located at 17 Spring Street, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. For questions or additional enrollment information, kindly call 914-937-5863.

Important Notice to Parents Regarding School Safety and the ELC

Please see the letter, linked here, to the community from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Kliszus. (Para la versión en español de este documento, haga clic en este enlace.) There are two subjects of this letter. First is the matter of school safety in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., tragedy. The second is in regards to the decision by the Board of Education to close the JFK Early Learning Center at the Holy Rosary School at the school year's end.

PORT CHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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When to keep your child home from school with illness

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME WITH ILLNESS

It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or call for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.

PCMS Receives Health Grant, Expands Breakfast Program with New Kiosk

With the snip of a ribbon, Port Chester Middle School’s brand new breakfast kiosk was open for business. Children grabbed milk cartons, fruit, string cheese and cereal bars as they hurried to class with a healthy morning meal.

On March 9, Port Chester administrators accepted a $10,000 donation in the form of a breakfast kiosk. It was a gift from the PepsiCo Foundation, in conjunction with GenYouth, American Dairy Association North East and Fuel Up to Play 60.

“Our Board of Education and administration encourage students to be healthy by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as part of the total learning environment,” said assistant superintendent for business Maura McAward. “We believe that health optimizes student performance potential, and a healthy breakfast is the most important first step.”

Port Chester Middle School was one of 25 schools in 18 states that received a breakfast kiosk during National School Breakfast Week (March 5-9). It was given to assist the school in expanding its “grab and go” breakfast program, which encourages children to eat nutritious food – like yogurt, muffins and apple sauce – at the start of the day.

Port Chester Middle School Principal Patrick Swift thanked the donors for ensuring that his students have healthy food to begin their day. “I’m excited to see where it takes us as it will give them more opportunities,” he said.

Childhood hunger is a pervasive problem but is not well-known in our society, said Jon Banner, PepsiCo Foundation’s president and executive vice president of communications. Many students and families struggle with hunger, even in Westchester County.

“This is about fueling greatness and nourishing the children,” said GenYouth CEO Alexis Glick. “You don’t realize how big of a difference this will make for them. It will set them up for success.”

News & Announcements - Port Chester Middle School

“Hour of Code” Attracts Students to Computer Science, Coding Joy

Following Port Chester’s first-ever “Hour of Code” festivities last year, high school students turned up in droves for the second annual popular event.

On March 1, Port Chester High School students visited the library throughout the day to participate in the Hour of Code. The event served as an introduction to computer science, designed for the teens to learn the basics of coding or to broaden their horizons.

“This is a fun and engaging way to have students warm up to computer science,” said PCHS computer science teacher Virginia Peterson. “We hope that they enjoy it and want to learn more.”

During the session, the children learned how to code a game. They had a choice of themes, ranging from Flappy Birds and Minecraft to Star Wars and Wonder Woman. Along with Ms. Peterson and three classmates who were well-versed in coding, the students were guided to code their game by tutorials and short videos.

“These activities teach the children about coding logic and how to understand the commands,” said Ms. Peterson. “They also get the gratification of making a game on their own.”

Computer science is a newer program at Port Chester High School. During its first year, only 20 students participated. Now, in its second year, the program attracts approximately 250 students.

News & Announcements - Port Chester High School

PCHS CompSci Teacher Chosen to Mentor, Lead Coding Workshops

Port Chester High School computer science teacher Virginia Peterson was selected by a preeminent computer science company to facilitate workshops for fellow educators.

Code/Interactive, a local partner of code.org, asked Ms. Peterson to share her knowledge in workshops for Exploring Computer Science and Creative Web Development and Programming. Over February’s Winter Recess, she led a one-week workshop. In the future, she will travel to schools in Westchester County and New York City to mentor teachers one-on-one.

“Being able to code and understand how to code is literacy in the digital age,” said Ms. Peterson. “It will be helpful to children and adults, no matter their professions. If they know how to code, they can change the world.”

Ms. Peterson was interested in computer science from a young age. She took her first basic coding class in middle school and developed a passion for the subject. She initially was a computer science major in college before switching her focus to mathematics.

“There’s a real need for people who teach it effectively,” Ms. Peterson said. “By training teachers, you can affect more kids. I’m thrilled to help in any way I can. This means the world to me. Sharing the passion is exciting and contagious.”

News & Announcements - Port Chester High School

Good Choices Start Early at Park School

The Port Chester School District continually teaches students to make the right decisions and to be positive members of society. They begin learning this knowledge early - from kindergarten onward.

On March 5, at Park School's special Good Choices assembly, students mixed fun with learning!

News & Announcements - Park Avenue School

Dr. Seuss, Reading Celebrated at JFK

Excited students and staff at John F. Kennedy Magnet School celebrated National Read Across America Day by participating in special reading activities.

On March 2, the event honored Dr. Seuss on his birthday. It is "an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss."

Purchase Lady Rams Spirit Wear

When placing an order, you must use the access code on the bottom right hand corner of the attached flyer - PCSOFT2018. Orders must be placed on or before March 19.

Thank you in advance for your support!

The PC Softball Booster Club Committee

PORT CHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Port Chester Middle School Bond Project Defeated

Residents rejected the Port Chester Public Schools’ $12.5 million Bond Project by 48.6%, not allowing the commencement of emergency safety improvements at Port Chester Middle School.

On Feb. 6, 1,933 community members headed to the polls. There were 940 residents who voted in favor of the bond and 993 not in favor.

The Board of Education will reconvene to discuss its next steps. It has the option of posting a second vote (either the same amount or with modifications) or can decide to repurpose the existing bond (passed in March 2017).

“We thank our community for sharing their thoughts on this crucial matter,” said Superintendent Dr. Edward Kliszus. “It is disappointing that there wasn’t higher participation. Matters of this importance should be decided by a larger number of residents for the best outcome for our children and community.”

The vital Bond Project looked to examine needed renovations at the middle school in order to primarily address recent emergency safety work and necessary reconstruction for a long-term and cost-effective solution. It planned to resolve safety concerns by removing the exterior concrete cantilevers, repairing pedestrian bridges and replacing stairwell fire safety doors. There would have been an annual eight percent energy savings, thanks to the replacement of 50-year old windows with new energy-efficient insulated windows. A smaller portion of the project also would have addressed two delayed projects on other campuses: installing ADA-compliant hand rails at Edison School and upgrading the high school auditorium’s audio system.

In early January, four students returned to the Port Chester campus for a special talk with Superintendent Edward Kliszus and high school principal Mitchell Combs.

“It’s important that our current students and community to understand that our graduates are well-prepared for success in the college and university setting,” said Dr. Kliszus. “Furthermore, success can be achieved by all of our students who choose to fully utilize the resources available at Port Chester High School.”

In addition to discussing their time in Port Chester, the recent graduates also spoke about their experiences in college. The roundtable served as a way to offer valuable insights to the local school community.

“The information that our guests share with us really is heard and sometimes incorporated into our future planning, so we listen to what they have to say,” said Dr. Combs.

PORT CHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pup Pipi Crowned in PCMS’ Cutest Pet Contest as Students Show Generous Spirit

From a flock of adorable dogs and cats, students at Port Chester Middle School crowned Pipi – a rat terrier, Pomeranian, miniature pincher and pitbull mix – as the cutest pet.

During December, cheerful students voted in the “Cutest Pet Contest,” which consisted of 34 dogs and cats owned by PCMS staff members. Each child donated $1 to cast a vote – and raised over $600, which was given to Pet Rescue, a pet adoption service in Harrison. The winner, Pipi, is owned by physical education teacher Melissa Piccola.

As a surprise, on Dec. 22, the PCMS auditorium was visited by a handful of adorable furry friends - puppies to adult dogs. The students were bright with excitement, kneeling down to cuddle with them. Others giggled, overjoyed to pet and feed them treats. While some of the dogs belonged to Port Chester staff members, most were available to adopt from Pet Rescue.

The initiative was spearheaded by the PCMS physical education staff from the desire to give back to the local community. Mr. Michael Bonanno had never owned a dog until two years ago when he adopted his Norwich terrier.

“The children saw how important the lives of pets are,” he said. “My dog changed my life. In class, we talk about stress management and how dogs can help with relaxation. This event is also about giving back to others.”

The money raised was donated to Pet Rescue to help increase awareness for animal adoptions. In addition, students and staff also donated pet food, blankets, beds and toys to help the animals currently at the organization.

PCMS Principal Patrick Swift was proud of his students for their willingness to donate, praising their kind-heartedness and saying that the children always share with the community at any opportunity. Pet Rescue's Judith Roth attended the event and was also grateful for PCMS' caring nature.

“We are so overwhelmed by the students’ generosity,” she said. “Through the school’s support, we are able to save dogs and give them a home.”

PORT CHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Port Chester Programs Receive Funding for Student Success

Two of Port Chester Public Schools’ partner programs were awarded Westchester County Youth Bureau “Invest in Kids” grants.

In late-December, the organization granted “One World” and “Steer for Student-Athletes” with funding for a three-year period, beginning in 2018. Each program will receive approximately $45,000 each year.

The One World program, “Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders,” helps Port Chester Schools to further its character education program, which was initiated last year (with assistance from the Harvard Think Tank on Global Competence). The funding will also support the implementation of the nation’s leading character education program, Character.org.

Funding for the Steer for Student-Athletes program will support the expansion of existing programs in Port Chester Public Schools. The program provides support services – including giving social, academic and athletic assistance to student-athletes in order to graduate – and prepares them for further education into college and careers.

“Our district is pleased and proud to continue our partnerships to bring high-quality and effective support programming to our students,” said Joe Durney, Port Chester’s Deputy Superintendent. “These organizations support district initiatives that have proven effective. We are delighted that this funding will further our mission to ensure our students’ success.”

PORT CHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Our New Superintendent’s Corner Shares District’s Message

Visit our new Superintendent’s Corner to learn more about Dr. Edward Kliszus and the issues that are important to the district.

You can find his overarching message and Twitter feed, along with updates about advocacy and upcoming bonds.

PORT CHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Help Us Obtain Our Rightful School Foundation Aid

Foundation Aid was established a decade ago to ensure that all students receive their constitutionally guaranteed right to a sound and basic education, regardless of their zip code. The failure to adhere to the original 2007-08 Foundation Aid formula has cut our state aid by more than $168 million over 10 years. This comes at a time when costs have risen and our enrollment has grown by more than 800 students.